Ohoopee River Chain Pickerel Record Broken, And Fried…

Scott Drennon with the new Ohoopee River record jackfish that weighed 3.41 pounds.

When you catch a record fish, it’s always good to have credible witnesses. Scott Drennon, who recently caught the largest chain pickerel ever recorded from the Ohoopee River, did so in front of a good one.

“I was bass fishing with Treutlen County Sheriff Thomas Corbin,” Scott said. “I was throwing a plastic worm when the fish hit.”

Scott wasn’t real familiar with the fish that he caught, but the sheriff was. Sheriff Corbin assured Scott that the fish commonly called a jackfish was the biggest one he had ever seen in the area. When the fish was officially weighed and tipped the scales at 3.41 pounds, Scott had the record.

About all retired the Army colonel knew about the fish was that people said it wasn’t any good to eat. He found out that they were wrong about that. It was the “old good if you fix it right” story.

“If you fry them. All those tiny bones just melt,” Scott said.

See all of GON’s official Georgia Lake & River Records here.

Requirements For Record Fish

• Fish must be caught legally by rod and reel in a manner consistent with state game and fish regulations.

• Catch must be weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present, who must be willing to provide their names and phone numbers so they can be contacted to verify the weighing of the fish.

• Witnesses to the weighing must be at least 18 years old, and they must not be members of the angler’s immediate family nor have a close personal relationship with the angler.

• Catch must be positively identified by qualified DNR personnel.

GON’s records are compiled and maintained by GON, to be awarded at GON’s discretion. Additional steps may be required for record consideration.